The Mind and Body Doctor - Clinical Psychology Online

Florida Psychologist Announces Weight Loss Consulting

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:49:14 +0000

Press Release URL:

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=115237

Press Release Headline

Florida Psychologist Announces Weight Loss Consulting

Press Release Company:

Florida Psychologist or Florida Weight Loss

Press Release Full Text:

Dr. Heidi Rimer Cherwony, Florida board certified psychologist, offers professional, weight loss consultation for individuals dealing with the personal challenge of increased body weight. Dr. Cherwony’s website www.MindAndBodyDoctor.com informs clients about the importance of a total balanced plan for permanent weight loss and long term weight management.

Individuals may arrange consultation with Dr. Cherwony via telephone (561-699-4639) or by selecting one of the convenient and secure online internet options, live chat or email. For Boca Raton residents,
the Mind And Body Doctor office is centrally located near Glades and I-95 at:
2200 NW Corporate Blvd, Suite 311
Boca Raton, Florida, 3343

Clients may access driving directions via the clinic website mindandbodydoctor.com/officevisit.php .

In today’s fast paced world, long-term and weight loss rarely go hand in hand. The diet industry is booming, yet weight issues and obesity rates are higher than ever. Related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are also skyrocketing at alarming rates. Although most of us understand the concept of eating healthy foods and the need to exercise, people often turn to radical changes in short term diet. This leads to immediate weight loss only to be shortly followed by the inevitable weight gain,

leaving you even more frustrated and less motivated than when you started.

Achieving long term weight loss is a major focus of the doctor’s

goals with her clients. Dr. Cherwony states,

“Remember, weight loss and maintenance is a journey, a lifestyle.

Success is not about achieving an arbitrary number on a scale.

Rather, we will go on a journey together to achieve your long term health, happiness, calm, balance and high self-esteem that

will allow you to live a fuller & much improved life.”

For more information please visit Dr. Cherwony at: mindandbodydoctor.com/aboutme.php .

Press Release Contact Information:
Gary Baldwin
President
Sunbay Logic

Florida Psychologist discusses Tips for Success in Weight Loss

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:21:15 +0000

Being successful in maintenance of weight loss after surgery requires a drastic change in lifestyle. The majority of my patients exploring the idea of bariatric surgery understand only that they will have to make changes to their eating habits and to start exercising. It is important to realize, however, that long term success requires a change to all aspects of our lives. The way we treat ourselves will reflect greatly on our success down the road.

Integrity is the main ingredient to success. Being honest with yourself will help you in learning about yourself and personal growth. If you sneak food behind your spouses back, it does not so much matter that you are lying to your spouse but rather than you are lying to yourself. If you come in for a follow up visit and fail to share your struggles, you are only cheating yourself the opportunity for guidance and additional support.

Establishing a supportive network is another key ingredient to success and to your happiness. Surround yourself with healthy and successful people and those people who you admire and respect. You may be surprised at how their positive energy rubs off on you.

Many of us are scared to go to a doctor when something does not feel right because we are afraid of what we may find out. Similarly, we put off going to the dentist or for annual checkups that are a necessary part of preventative health. Being proactive in our healthcare is important and necessary to our general wellbeing. It is also important to ask questions and to understand fully what instructions or information we are given by doctors before we leave their office.

Become aware and tune into your body. Sore feet at the end of the day may mean that you have worked too hard and that your legs and feet need to rest. Soaking your feet in warm water, elevating them or staying off your feet can help to replenish them and help them to heal. The alternative option is to continue to push your feet until you wear them down, resulting in a larger problem. The same goes for the rest of your body. If you are sick, take a sick day. The world will go on without you being there.

Slow down and make sure you have time for fun. Balance in life is important. Setting priorities and goals are essential in success. If you are engaging in any behavior to extreme, even exercise, you are neglecting other important parts of your life. Many of my patients who are successful and maintain a healthy weight long term have even changed their careers because they know that their career for example, in the food industry, was not conducive to healthy decision making.

However far out of surgery you are, you must realize that you do have to sacrifice and make changes if you want to be successful for life. It is a process and may require support or guidance of a friend, supportive family member or professional. The end results will be worth it!

By Heidi R. Cherwony, Psy.D.

Florida Psychologist on Self-esteem. If only…

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:02:19 +0000

‘She is skinny, I like her dress, her flowing hair and her fabulous make-up. If only I looked like….’ How many of you are constantly comparing yourselves to other people. By comparing ourselves to others, we are in fact setting ourselves up to feel insecure, have low self-esteem and a poor body image. We are setting ourselves up to feel as a failure and that we are not good enough. We have so much pressure from the media and society to look like a supermodel that we forget about what we do have to offer and in fact how amazing our bodies truly are. Do you wish to continue your life in pursuit of that perfect body or would you rather spend your time and energy enjoying what you have accomplished with friends and family?

In moving toward a sense of wellness, let’s talk about the tools to work on your mind. Let us move you toward understanding, appreciating and accepting your body so that you can finally learn to love who you are and your body shape. These are the three steps toward a happier you.

1. Awareness: It is important to understand how miraculous your body actually is. Biologically and physically, our bodies are masterpieces that perform at a high level every moment. We also need to appreciate that we consume food to provide fuel for our bodies so that we can function in many different capacities. Think about your body and it’s limitations before you decided to have surgery and the improvements that you have made since then. Learn to practice mindfulness. In other words, we need to begin paying attention and listening to our body’s cues of hunger, fullness, fatigue and pain. This will help us to differentiate between our emotional and physical hunger.

2. Acceptance: We can move toward acceptance of our present situation and what is, rather than dwelling or longing for what is not. To facilitate this, we can begin to think about our positive intrinsic qualities and rehearsing positive statements about ourselves such as, “I am a caring person.” Be kind to yourself and pay attention to the words you choose in speaking to yourself. Stop verbally abusing yourself! Also, in the same way that we expect normal weight fluctuations with each day or month, we should also realize that we have our own unique genetics and body type.

3. Assistance: Realize that you deserve encouragement when life gets tough and you feel stressed. It’s okay to reach out to friends, family or professionals for support. Let those close to you know who you are by expressing your needs and wants.

By Heidi R. Cherwony, Psy.D.

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Stop and smell the roses

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:39:43 +0000

Are you keeping right side up or are you getting knocked over? Does it feel like no matter what you do, it seems that often every minute of every day is always scheduled for something? With many challenges and complexities of life today, especially with the increased hardships of our current economy, it can be very easy to become sidetracked from ourselves, our needs and what is important. If you find yourself scurrying around for everyone else, or if you find yourself reaching back into old habits, you are not alone. Here are a few pointers to help you get back on track to a balanced lifestyle:

Actually stop and smell the roses. Slow down. Take note and observe your surroundings. Make an effort to recognize your journey rather than just waiting to reach your destination.
Take a moment to examine what is truly important to you. Write down a list of what you need to do and then prioritize and say no to unnecessary activities or chores.
Schedule alone time or “ME” time at least once a day. And then stick with it.
Make sure to make time to eat regularly scheduled meals. Your brain needs fuel and your body needs a break too. You also do not want to fall victim to grazing, unhealthy snacking or skipping meals. Stay clear of fast foods as it is easy to get caught up in being too busy to prepare or pack a meal.
Go back to basics to get back on track. Pull out those old manuals, affirmation scripts, books etc and just start again.
Reach out for support and hand over some chores to others who seem to be sitting around. You don’t have to do it all.
Exercise helps eliminate stress and empowers you to a clear mind
Realize that you do not have to do everything. The laundry does not have to get done every day.
Separate work and home life. There needs to be a boundary so that work does not invade your personal life.
For those moms out there who feel that they have to be the perfect mom, there is no such a thing. Your child does not need to be in every activity so that there is no time left for anything else.
Teach your family to relax. Take time out to just do nothing.
Take a mental health day from work just to do something relaxing and fun for yourself. Don’t tell anyone until your day is through.
Take up a new hobby or revisit a forgotten one.

If you are not taking care of yourself because so many other people depend on you, it is time for a reality check. Simplify your life. People work all their lives to retire and slow down. Why wait? The less you have to worry about, the less you have to pay for, and the less you will worry. Remember that your life is a journey and a process in motion. Be kind to yourself as you make the necessary changes to incorporate more balance into your life. Forget the criticism and praise yourself for even small changes made.

– Heidi R. Cherwony, Psy.D.

Founder, mindandbodydoctor.com

Sadness & Depression

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:26:59 +0000

Being human means experiencing a wide array of emotions. Sadness is just one of many feelings. This means that we ALL feel sad at times and it a very normal and appropriate response to unsettling events, losses, life transitions, and disappointments, no matter how big or small.

It is important to allow yourself to feel sad and to try and express your sadness to someone close to you. Keeping your sad feelings to yourself can actually make you feel worse. Crying is not a weakness, but an expression of your inner self. We can learn a lot about ourselves if we listen to our feelings.

Once you allow yourself to experience and express your sadness, your sad feelings will likely resolve themselves with some time. However, if you find yourself experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and/or difficulty engaging in regular functions or activities, it may be helpful to speak to a professional.

Depression is a much deeper level of sadness that can be very overwhelming and interferes with a person’s level of functioning. Research suggests that 1 out of 6 adults in North America suffer from Depression. There are also tremendous variations in the way that people experience Depression. There are also those many people who are depressed, yet are not aware that they do not have to live their lives feeling this way. For some people, depression can be experienced as irritability. Depression and Anxiety often go hand in hand. You may find yourself worrying or feeling distressed more often than not. Here are some of the signs that you may be experiencing depression:

· Persistent and profound feelings of sadness, irritability or “numbness”

· A loss of interest in pleasurable activities that you have enjoyed in the past

· Social isolation and withdrawal

· Loss of energy or feeling tired often

· Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

· Feelings of guilt and/or worthlessness

· Sleeping too much or not sleeping at all

· Loss or gain of weight and appetite

· Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

· Thoughts of wanting to die, recurrent thoughts of death, or a suicide attempt or plan of death.

· Physical symptoms such as unexplained headaches, ulcers, and pain that do not respond to treatment

Please reach out to a professional for help. Life does not have to be so difficult. There are ways to help you live a happier and more carefree life. Reaching out for help may seem like the most impossible thing to do when life feels so dark. But there is a light and things can get better

Dr. Heidi R. Cherwony

Founder, mindandbodydoctor.com

Gifted Testing

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:33:19 +0000

IQ Evaluations or Gifted Testing

All children are special in their own ways. There are many ways to be gifted. Individuals can be gifted intellectually, musically, artistically, or athletically, among others. However, an IQ test is used to evaluate whether a child is intellectually gifted and would benefit from receiving more rigorous academic programming at school. Therefore, testing children for giftedness has to do with accommodating children who require an educational system which is more academically challenging. The public school systems (and many private schools) require intelligence (IQ) testing to identify whether or not a child meets the gifted criteria in order to enter this type of classroom.

Dr. Heidi Rimer Cherwony provides gifted testing for such placements. The evaluation includes the following:

1). Brief clinical interview with the parent and child about their past school experiences, current academic placement, family background, and milestone history.

2). Administration of a standardized test of intellectual functioning, an IQ test. Depending on the age of the child at testing, either the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) or Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) are used.

3). Some school systems require an additional test in achievement for Reading and Math.

4). Dr. Cherwony provides verbal feedback of the results to the parent on the same day as testing.

5). A written report is provided within two to five days. Reports are thorough and are in accordance with School System requirements. Aside from whether or not a child meets criteria for giftedness, parents will be informed of their child’s style of learning, strengths and weaknesses.

The fee for this evaluation is $450. If you have any additional questions regarding the process of testing for giftedness or our gifted evaluation program, or would like to make an appointment, please contact our office at 561-699-4639. Dr. Cherwony will return your call to personally discuss testing, and any questions or concerns with you.

Requirements for Gifted Placement

The average IQ is, by definition, 100. Scores above 100 indicate a higher than average IQ, and scores below 100 indicate a lower than average IQ. Fifty percent of the population has an average IQ.

According to the State of Florida criteria for gifted, in order to qualify for the Gifted Program, a child must score at or above the 98th percentile on an individually administered standardized test of intelligence. This means that he or she scored better than 98 out of 100 children his or her age, which is equivalent to an IQ score of 130 or above.

In Palm Beach County, a student must also achieve at the 90^th percentile or above for either Reading or Math, as shown on a standardized test of Academic Achievement. In addition, a student must demonstrate a majority of the characteristics of a gifted student according to a teacher- completed gifted checklist and show a need for programming beyond the regular classroom.

Additional Information

All children have a profile of relative strengths and weaknesses. While not always the case, many intellectually gifted youngsters show an early interest in learning, tend to grasp new concepts easily and show a curiosity about a variety of topics. Oftentimes such youngsters are easily bored if not sufficiently stimulated by their environment. Early interest in Reading or Math is not necessarily an indicator of giftedness, nor are straight A’s in school in and of themselves. Placing a child, who has not met the full criteria for gifted, in a gifted program, can be damaging to a child’s self-esteem and academic performance. A child who does not meet an IQ score of 130 can still be a very bright individual. Therefore our goal of gifted testing is to determine the right fit for your child based on his or her intellectual functioning.

– Dr. Heidi R. Cherwony

Dr. Cherwony is the Founder of mindandbodydoctor.com

Bariatric Psychological Evaluations

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:38:43 +0000

Bariatric Psychological Evaluations are conducted prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. Many insurance companies want to see that the individual is a suitable candidate for compliance following their surgery. Bariatric practices that have met the standards for Center of Excellence expect that all of their patients will undergo a thorough Bariatric Evaluation before being considered for surgery.

I have worked with bariatric patients for many years and have seen firsthand their success and their struggles associated with the surgery. I have seen the unbelievable life changes and improved quality of life.

Therefore I am a huge advocate for the surgery and my goal is to help you to go through the surgery because you deserve a second chance at life. However, I want to see you go through this life changing event with the best results possible. I conduct a thorough evaluation with my main goal being to help prepare you for long term success. I use the evaluation as a means to educate you and to discuss any concerns that you may have. I want to see you lose the weight and keep it off for good. Following the evaluation, I will provide you feedback and recommendations for long-term success. We will discuss the steps that you can take to greatly increase your odds for long-term success. I also offer pre and post surgical support.

– by Heidi R. Cherwony, Psy. D.
Founder, mindandbodydoctor.com

About Long-term weight loss

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:37:11 +0000

I want to take a moment to discuss long-term weight loss with you. In today’s fast paced world, “long-term” and “weight loss” rarely go hand in hand. The diet industry is booming, yet weight issues and obesity rates are higher than ever. Related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are also skyrocketing at alarming rates.
Although most of us understand the concept of eating healthy foods and the need to exercise, people often turn to radical changes in short term diet. This leads to immediate weight loss only to be shortly followed by the inevitable weight gain, leaving you even more frustrated and less motivated than when you started.

I will teach you what I have been teaching my clients successfully for years, that the missing component to successful long term weight loss and maintenance is the psychological component. I will give you the tools to take care of yourself first. To help you create a balanced, happier, healthier life. Eating patterns are not isolated to physical cravings and hunger. Our eating patterns and unfortunate eating problems are dictated by our emotions, our ability to deal with stress and by how we feel about ourselves.

Remember, weight loss and maintenance is a journey, a lifestyle- and success is not about achieving an arbitrary number on a scale. Rather we will go on a journey together to achieve your long term health, happiness, calm, balance and high self-esteem that will allow you to live a fuller & much improved life.

– by Heidi R. Cherwony, Psy. D.
Founder, mindandbodydoctor.com